Thinking Aloud: Volume XI, Issue 10: March 1, 2025

The latest issue of Thinking Aloud probes into the concept of resilience from economic and political perspectives, which was critically analyzed during the 8th SANEM Annual Economists’ Conference (SAEC) 2025. Here’s what to expect:

First page: “Unpacking Bangladesh’s Economic Resilience”

This analysis examines Bangladesh’s economic resilience, defined as the ability to rebound quickly from shocks while maintaining stability and growth amid domestic inefficiencies and global uncertainties. The analysis concludes by expressing concern that despite three decades of reform discussions, minimal progress has been made due to a lack of interest from political and business elites. Without decisive action to address these vulnerabilities, Bangladesh’s ability to withstand future shocks will be severely limited.

Rest of this issue: Synopsis of 8th SAEC 2025

The 8th SAEC 2025 commenced on 21-23 February 2025 at the BRAC Centre Inn, bringing together leading economists, researchers, and policymakers from South Asia and beyond. The conference, organized by the South Asian Network on Economic Modeling (SANEM), focused on ‘Restoring Stability in the Economic and Political Landscapes: Navigating Fragility to Resilience.’ The keynote address was delivered by Dr. Franziska Ohnsorge, Chief Economist for the South Asia Region at The World Bank, discussing the ‘Implications of Geoeconomic Fragmentation for South Asia.’ The three-day conference featured 6 panel discussions and 20 paper presentation sessions, covering diverse topics such as macroeconomic stability, trade and investment, poverty and inequality, labor market issues, governance, climate change, human capital development, and energy security. The event was conducted in a hybrid format, allowing participation from experts across the globe.

Thinking Aloud continues to facilitate discussions around national and regional pertinent economic issues. Don’t miss this compelling edition!